Coronavirus (Covid-19) Tracker: As of 27 April, the UK has 154,037 confirmed cases and 20,795 deaths out of which England alone tops 15,000 deaths. It recorded 4,463 fresh cases today.

The true extent of Britain’s COVID-19 death toll is not reflected in hospital numbers as it excludes deaths in care homes, private residences and hospices.( Axel Heimken/Reuter/File)

Coronavirus Tracker: UK Region-wise Cases, Deaths: As of 27 April, the UK has 154,037 confirmed cases and 20,795 deaths out of which England alone tops 15,000 deaths. It also had 778 recoveries. It recorded 4,463 fresh cases today along with 413 deaths. Britain has the fifth-highest official death toll from COVID-19 in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France. The novel coronavirus started spreading in the UK in late January with its first confirmation coming in February. Since then the spread of COVID-19 in March and April has rapidly increased with the government authorities still warning about a possibly peak.

Britain’s capital London has the highest number of cases that cross 22,000 and over 4,000 deaths. This is followed by the North West region that has more than 14,000 positive cases. The UK daily hospital death toll first rose to a peak of 980 on April 9. The true extent of Britain’s COVID-19 death toll is not reflected in hospital numbers as it excludes deaths in care homes, private residences and hospices.

The death rate on Tuesday was 40% higher than that on 10 April, indicating the rapid spread and worsening condition of the disease in the region.

Foreign minister Dominic Raab announced that the lockdown and social distancing measures will be extended for at least another 3 weeks and could last till about 3 May. With British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returning home after recovering from Covid-19 Sunday, his first challenge will be unveiling a plan to ease the ongoing lockdown.

UK came up with a national plan to deal with the crisis in early March that included school closures, working from home and cancelling large scale gatherings. The government said its strategy was aimed at delaying the peak of the outbreak until the summer when the health service is under less seasonal pressure.

On 22 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced taking of special steps for the vulnerable people that included those who already have heart and respiratory problems and the elderly population.